"Keep going?"
Madam Xiao was puzzled.
"Why?"
She knew her son wasn't the sort to play pranks.
On the contrary, though he didn't seem particularly warm, he was thoughtful and considerate even in the smallest details.
"Fight poison with poison."
Xiao Xiao's brows lifted slightly.
Madam Xiao paused.
Then a thoughtful look appeared on her face.
"Monsters aren't something you see often."
Xiao Xiao's lips curved slightly.
"But he seems to have seen them often, and to have remained in a state of constant anxiety."
"The monster left a shadow in his heart."
"But he can see monsters. That's not something he can change by sheer force of will."
"All he can change is his attitude."
"He needs to become less afraid of monsters."
"Otherwise, if he keeps himself in this state of unease and alarm, one day he won't be able to take it anymore."
He'd break down.
Madam Xiao nodded.
Exactly.
The way forward was to alternate tension with relaxation.
No one could stand keeping themselves wound so tight all the time.
People were made of flesh and blood.
They weren't diamonds.
"I had Bing Feng—"
"The monster who scared Wei Yu Chen."
After explaining, Xiao Xiao continued, "I had Bing Feng appear in front of Wei Yu Chen."
"But not scare him like before."
"Just a little less."
"Let Wei Yu Chen realize that Bing Feng doesn't actually mean him any harm."
"Bing Feng is playing with him."
"If Wei Yu Chen realizes that, I think he'll become a little less afraid of monsters."
"Mm-hmm."
Madam Xiao nodded in agreement.
Then her eyes lit up. "No wonder you took him into the courtyard this afternoon."
"You wanted to show him White Plum Blossom, right?"
Madam Xiao caught on quickly.
She immediately